Cosgriff Memorial students see the world in ?Reality Town'

IC photo by Christine Young

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A parent counsels eighth-grade students on medical and dental insurance. One students finds out one of her children will need braces and she is glad she purchased dental insurance.

SALT LAKE CITY - The eighth grade students at J. E. Cosgriff Memorial School spent a few hours getting a glimpse into the future in "Reality Town" April 16.

"Reality Town is an educational program, based in Lehi, Utah, that gives students a realistic experience in juggling financial responsibilities associated with adulthood," said Kay Bush, Cosgriff counselor.

Bush explained the students investigated career choices, work environments, salaries, and educational requirements. They composed resumes and submitted job applications in which they applied for a career for their experience. They learned how to keep and balance a check register. After being assigned a career, they learned about tax withholdings from their pay stubs.

In each scenario, the students were 30 years old and had just moved to a new community where they had to set up a household. They had one to three children, different salaries and occupations, and their spouses may or may not contribute to the household income.

Saint Ambrose social hall was staged with parents and teachers as business experts with whom students interacted. Students were given the options to rent or purchase housing, purchase health, dental, and car insurance, buy cars or bus passes and buy clothing and groceries. Students paid for utilities, property taxes, home repairs, and addressed medical, dental and unexpected household maintenance expenses. They applied for financial assistance and counseling if they ran out of money or joined the military for extra income. Some of the students had enough income for entertainment, child care or to make donations.

Eighth-grader Elese Peifer, a front-desk office worker, had to visit supplemental income because she ran out of money. She received counseling and got a second job.

"The students learned 16-year old girls have an advantage over 16-year old boys because their insurance rates are lower," said David Asman, Cosgriff music teacher. "Rates are also lower without traffic violations."

Bob Imhoff, a parent, said to purchase a car, the students had to determine how many kids they had, their children's activities, if their lifestyle warranted a bus pass, whether to get a new or used car and the time period of their loan.

"Most of the kids bought the cheapest car they could find, except those with three kids in car seats, who needed a van," said Imhoff. "Only a few kids, who made a little more money, purchased a more expensive car. Many of them were environmentally conscious and purchased a hybrid car."

Kathy Chadey said many students chose not to get medical and dental insurance until they saw how expensive the costs were without insurance. "It has been really interesting to listen to their logic," said Chadey. "One student said ‘I am a social worker with three kids, do you know what day care costs?' This has been real beneficial for the students."

Following the exercise, eighth-grader Jackie Morgan said she now realizes how expensive it is to live and appreciates what her parents do for her.

Eighth-grader Isabel Romano was a journalist with three children and was frustrated because her spouse did not contribute to the household income. She couldn't afford a car and had to purchase a bus pass, which made her job difficult. She thought the exercise was a little unrealistic because in today's society and in her family both parents work.

Larry Hinman, Cosgriff math resource teacher, said the students made some rational decisions "that in real life are important, such as putting a roof over their head and buying groceries," he said.